709 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Chapter 709 of "The World's Greatest Martial Artist’s Childhood Friend" - North Rabbit by Web Novel Library During a time when Tang So-yeol could still count the number of her own deaths. The King of Assassins spoke to her, drenched in cold sweat. "Do you know what you fear the most?" Master of the night. The king of those who live to kill. In response to the question posed by a man closest to death, Tang So-yeol raised her head. What she feared the most? “…Is it death?” Death. The end of life itself. Assuming that might be the answer, she spoke cautiously, but the King of Assassins maintained his characteristic stoic expression. "Wrong." The consequence of a wrong answer was severe. Swish-! The King of Assassins swung his dagger, and Tang So-yeol's head was severed. Thud-! The moment her fallen head touched the ground. “Gasp…!” She awoke again, as if everything had been an illusion. “Gasp…huff. Sob…” Watching Tang So-yeol whimper in terror, the King of Assassins spoke. “Still not enough.” “Wait…!” With those words, she died a hundred more times. Afterwards, Tang So-yeol’s expression vanished. She no longer cried in fear. However. “I’ll ask again. What do you fear the most?” Even after countless attempts, she still couldn’t determine the answer. Death was not frightening to her, suggesting it wasn’t the answer. Then what could it be? Even then, Tang So-yeol couldn’t answer. “Not yet.” The King of Assassins nodded. Swish-. Once again, death repeated itself. How many more times did she die? She couldn’t even count anymore. It seemed she had counted up to five hundred. Beyond that, she stopped counting. It was merely a repetition of questions and answers. “Do you know?” She answered that she didn’t know. Another death followed. “Do you know?” She thought she might vaguely understand. But without complete certainty, she met death again and again. “Do you know?” She wasn’t sure of the answer, but learned other things. How to stab someone for an immediate death. Conversely, where to stab so they wouldn’t die but feel only pain. She hadn’t studied it. Endless repetition engraved it in her mind. Yet, she still couldn’t answer the King of Assassins’ question. The number of times was uncountable. When death had dulled to insignificance. “How unfortunate.” The King of Assassins spoke again with the same voice. “You’re slower than I expected.” “...” Did he mean she was slow to produce an answer? Tang So-yeol, with lifeless eyes, stared at him. Though his face was expressionless, there was a strange sense of disappointment within. “Will you give up?” “…No…no, I can…. I can do it….” The King of Assassins often urged Tang So-yeol to give up. Each time, she answered that she could do it. She couldn't abandon even this chance. This was the only opportunity she had left. If she lost even this, it would be better to truly die. “Hmm.” Upon hearing Tang So-yeol’s response, the King of Assassins paused, seemingly lost in thought. “Fine.” He nodded slightly and spoke. “From now on, ten chances. If you can’t find the answer within those.” The dagger of the King of Assassins pierced Tang So-yeol’s heart. No longer feeling pain, she began to slowly lose consciousness again. “I’ll kill Gu Yang-cheon, whom you hold dear.” “…!” The voice that pierced her ears forced Tang So-yeol back to her senses. “Grrk…” Blood flowed. Amidst death, her eyes gleamed sharply. “What...did you just say…?” “It’d be best to find the answer. There aren’t many opportunities.” Tang So-yeol’s words seemed to fall on deaf ears to the King of Assassins, who remained indifferent. Thus, her hell began. “Do you know?” She'd already exhausted all the answers she could think of. What more could there be? In such circumstances, there was little Tang So-yeol could do. “Gu Gong-ja is unrelated…! Why!” “That’s not the answer.” As a dagger pierced her skull, she succumbed to death once more. “Please…please…. Don’t touch him. I’ll find the answer somehow…. Or I’ll do anything. Please…!” She even tried pleading, clinging to his legs desperately. Each time, his answer remained the same. “I’ll kill you…! If you touch him, I’ll kill you!” She even attempted to strike back with the dagger in fierce determination. But the result was still the same. “I told you I’m right-! That, this is what I fear, for sure--!!” Nothing worked. That’s how she used up eight chances. And then came the ninth. “…Sob… sob…” Desperately trying to conjure the answer. Not death nor despair. Not poverty nor sacrifice. Then what on earth was it? Panic rose within her. Dying hundreds of times didn’t matter to her. But he couldn’t be involved. He must not be part of this. Squeeze! Blood dripped from Tang So-yeol’s tightly clenched fist. She had clenched so hard that her nails dug into her flesh. ‘Please, please, please…please!’ She felt no pain. Her eyes, bloodshot from broken capillaries, stared at the King of Assassins. She had to find the answer. What was it? What answer would satisfy him? What was she truly most afraid of? Tang So-yeol refrained it constantly. Even then, the King of Assassins gradually approached her. He knelt half down. And met her gaze. “Do you know?” A question she’d heard thousands of times. This time, once more, the same question. Tang So-yeol’s eyes trembled madly. Once again, she couldn’t answer in the end. It felt like none of her answers would reach him. “So, you don’t know.” The King of Assassins began to move his dagger slowly again. Watching the gradually approaching dagger, Tang So-yeol pondered. What was she truly afraid of right now. It wasn’t death, nor pain. Was she afraid of losing Gu Yang-cheon? Yes. She was afraid. Then, was it that she feared losing someone dear? Or was it... ‘Is what I truly fear that I can do nothing while losing him.’ The thought that while he waned, she couldn’t offer any help. The fear that while losing him, she could do nothing. Was that it? As that thought struck her. Thunk-! The dagger of the King of Assassins, poised to sever her neck, halted in its tracks. "I'll ask again." A voice cut through the silence. Tang So-yeol, trembling violently, looked at him. "Do you know?" "…" The same voice, the same question. The fear of loss weighed heavily on Tang So-yeol, and hearing the question again, she blurted out without realizing it. "Helplessness…" The paralysis of being unable to do anything. As she uttered those words, a tear slipped from one of her eyes, which had yet to turn completely green. Yes, her fear was helplessness. It was not death or pain. It was merely a wretched feeling festering inside. That was all it was. "Hmm." Upon hearing this, the King of Assassins retrieved his dagger. "Is that your fear?" Tang So-yeol's eyes widened at his words. "Is… is that the right answer?" The situation was baffling. She had spoken of her helplessness countless times during her many deaths. She likely had said it several times. Even expressed it in similar terms, and once plainly. Yet, at those times, the King of Assassins had told her it wasn’t the answer and killed her. Why did he withdraw now? To Tang So-yeol’s question, the King of Assassins responded. “There’s a difference between saying something unknowingly and realizing it.” Between recognizing something and not recognizing it. What difference does that make? At that moment, Tang So-yeol didn’t understand. It wasn’t until her eyes turned completely green that she comprehended what the King of Assassins meant. By then, the King of Assassins finally permitted Tang So-yeol to descend the mountain. **************************** “What… what is that?” “What is happening?” Spectators murmured amongst themselves over the occurrence atop the martial arena. Just seconds into the duel between the Tang Clan’s Poison Bee and Yu Tankum. A sudden black curtain enveloped them, leaving everyone bewildered. What is that? Is it martial arts? Even the referee outside the arena hesitated, wondering whether to intervene due to its mysterious nature. Then— Shaa—!! After more than a minute, the black veil vanished. The figures of the two fighters inside were revealed once more. “Oh.” “Hmm?” Those who saw them responded with surprise. The two on the martial stage remained unchanged. Remarkably, neither bore a single scratch. Had they not fought at all? Such doubts arose. "Gughack—!" Suddenly, on Yu Tankum’s side, blood spewed forth as he fell to his knees. "What—!?" "Yu Tankum is down?" "What on...?" The unexpected turn left everyone astonished. Everyone had anticipated Poison Bee’s loss, yet now, Poison Bee merely observed the fallen Yu Tankum. “Gah, cough…cough!” With every cough, Yu Tankum spewed blood. Though externally unscathed, Yu Tankum winced in apparent agony. Tang So-yeol spoke to Yu Tankum. "Only four times." “…!” Yu Tankum’s face turned pale at Tang So-yeol’s words. "You only managed to endure four attempts." "You, you wretch!" "Don't overdo it. I let you go out of pity when you started begging." “What kind of sorcery have you used!?” Tang So-yeol chuckled at Yu Tankum's cries. Seeing her smile, Yu Tankum felt rooted to the spot with fear. What have I just experienced? Trying to recollect made his body tremble uncontrollably. Despite having just endured it, the memory was strangely hazy. All that remained was a lingering terror. Yu Tankum could not fully understand his condition. At such a moment— “Get a grip, senior.” Tang So-yeol addressed him. “I showed mercy because it would be uninteresting to end it like that. You should brace yourself.” Her smile was beautiful, but Yu Tankum no longer saw her as merely beautiful. His wariness spiked. His body was enveloped more in fear than fighting spirit. “…This monster…” The words slipped out unconsciously, yet they seemed to have no effect on Tang So-yeol. “Thank you for the compliment. So, are you done?” Grit- Grunting at her taunting words, Yu Tankum infused his sword with energy. An intangible fear overpowered his mind momentarily, but Yu Tankum was a master of great rank. He could suppress such emotions with effort. After regaining his composure, he addressed her. “I don’t know what trick you pulled, but if it didn’t work, you’re finished.” If it had worked, she should have ended him already. Since she hadn’t, the girl was without hope, Yu Tankum thought, unleashing his chi fiercely. “Huuk!” A pure, clear sword energy infused his sword. With it, he swung at Tang So-yeol. Paaaaaaa—!!! Tansung Haveom Cham (Shooting Star Slash). A technique composed of radiant sword energy sped toward Tang So-yeol. It was the technique that had earned him the nickname Yu Tankum. A beautiful sight like the flight of a crescent moon, yet the destructive power it concealed was of a different level. Crash-! The slash swept across the martial stage. Tang So-yeol tilted her head slightly at the spectacle. An action reminiscent of someone. And then— Whoosh-! “…!” Before the strike could land, Tang So-yeol’s silhouette vanished from Yu Tankum’s sight. ‘What…?’ In this wide-open space, where could she have vanished to? Yu Tankum hurried to locate Tang So-yeol’s presence. “Honestly.” Tang So-yeol’s soft voice reached him from up close. No, slightly below direct eye level. From his lower half. Yu Tankum hastily lowered his gaze, preparing to swing his sword again, but— “I still need the next person. How can you ruin the stage like this?” Tang So-yeol was quicker. With her words, she swung her arm, landing a punch on Yu Tankum’s side. Thump-! “Urk!?” Despite his protective energy, the attack drilled deeply into his waist. Boom-! Unable to fully block the impact, it exploded, sending Yu Tankum flying. Crash—! With a tremendous sound, Yu Tankum rolled across the ground. Thud-! Thud-! His stance was lost. Ignoring the pain, Yu Tankum tried to regain his posture, but— In front of him, a small foot flew toward him. Smack-! With a searing pain, Yu Tankum's head snapped back. “Gah!” The protective energy shattered along with his teeth. With an impossibly strong force emanating from her seemingly delicate physique, Tang So-yeol moved. A blurred vision. Through it, Tang So-yeol’s actions became visible. Thud-! Thud thud-! Thud thud-! Her small fists pounded relentlessly against Yu Tankum's body. Quick and nimble movements. Her fists infused with energy, resonating with a series of powerful sounds. Whenever Yu Tankum tried to flee, she'd strike his thigh to stop him. Whenever he attempted to swing his sword, she'd hit his shoulder to immobilize him. It wasn't a matter of predicting his path in advance. Tang So-yeol clearly set off later than Yu Tankum's movements. Yet, how could this be possible? ‘This… this is….’ As Yu Tankum confirmed the reason, his world crumbled. The explanation was simple. Tang So-yeol was simply faster than Yu Tankum. Significantly faster. There was no need for predictions or strategies. Just faster reactions. Consequently, Yu Tankum, as if he were no more than a scarecrow, found himself being battered all over. Thud thud thud-! Thud thud-! The most terrifying part was that Tang So-yeol was controlling her power. "Ugh!" Ensuring that Yu Tankum wouldn’t fall too easily. Preventing him from even fainting by using only the necessary force. To onlookers, it appeared she was toying with him. Yu Tankum, one of the hundred great masters of the martial world, was being treated like a plaything by Poison Bee, a mere junior martial artist. The audience was left in stunned silence, unable to properly react. “…Poison, how can Poison Bee….” “I can’t believe it…. What in the world is happening?” It was like a dream. Or perhaps a nightmare if this dream were to be described. And so, time passed by. The unending screams of Yu Tankum and the sound of blows ceased. A quiet calm settled over the arena. On the martial stage, Yu Tankum, beaten to a pulp, was barely held upright by Tang So-yeol gripping his hair. “Uggh… urgh…” Drip, drop. Blood from Yu Tankum dripped onto the floor of the arena. As Tang So-yeol watched this sight, she released her grip on his hair. Thud-! Slump-! Yu Tankum, who had been barely holding on, collapsed to the floor. Then, she stomped on his face. “…Now I’m all splattered with blood. How filthy.” Blood had smeared her hand. Without a care, Tang So-yeol pulled out a cloth from her robe and wiped it clean. “Gasp… urgh… ugh…” Yu Tankum groaned beneath her. Seeing this, Tang So-yeol gave a slight smile. “This suits you better.” He looked fitting, groveling on the ground. She had disliked his face from the start, but now it was at least tolerable. Utterly exhausted, Yu Tankum could manage only faint breaths. Tang So-yeol lifted her foot off him and crouched down to his level. Leaning close, she whispered into his ear. “From now on…. Live within your means. Don’t try to reach for things beyond your grasp. Understand?” As she spoke, she gently grazed his face with her pale fingertip. His body shuddered violently, as if convulsing from her touch. “...” “...” It was obvious that the duel was over. Yet, there was no cheering. The only sound was Yu Tankum’s faint, labored breathing. Tang So-yeol stepped away from him, prompting the referee to finally react, albeit hesitantly. "Oh… oh..." But Tang So-yeol didn’t wait to hear the result. She had another destination in mind. A young man who had been watching her from the entrance. Turning in his direction, she waved enthusiastically. “Sir! I won!! Praise me! Hehehe!” In stark contrast to the brutal beating she had just delivered, her smile was pure and innocent.